Love the ermine pics! Talk about some crusty trail conditions, no fun breaking through that top layer. You sure do a lot of freighting in the spring, always interesting seeing the variety of loads and how you secure them.

Good luck with the bears and getting some clients!

hey AK Howler, love the pictures but miss the videos. I figured out my problem with posting videos. My memory was full. I cleaned a bunch of useless crap off there and I can post videos again. That might be your problem too, check it out. Check out my video too while your at it. You have them spring fed fish holes in your country?

If there was one wild animal that I could have as a pet that would hang around but also be able to fend for itself, an ermine would be it. They are so cool to watch.

And great pictures JR. Love the tongue lick in the one.

-TJ

I'm late to this party and there are a lot of great places in America but man Alaska has to be the most spectacular state in the country. Just got done looking at all of this thread and your photos are just breathtaking JR.

Tom

Good morning Trappers. Thanks for the comments and I've said it before. I enjoy sharing my experiences with those willing to follow. If you can learn from my mistakes or utilize my methods, it is worth the time to download on this computer.

Did a quick trip to the cabin with a friend who'd never been out there. Had some good weather. Still winter up there for sure. Crazy spring.

I always enjoy taking people with me the headwaters of the the creek if they are sled savvy. Lots of snow this year so made the trip pretty nice.

This cabin was put up in the early 1900's and the weathered logs are beautiful.

Rick brought the groceries and cooked. He is welcome back anytime and wouldn't mind putting his Skandic SWT 900 ACE to work. He got to learn about those DS2 pilot skis that Skidoo is putiing on.
That was my last trip across the river this spring. I'll fly back over in a couple weeks. The Tanana was a bit sketchy and Dry Creek was falling out fast with the heavy snow loads. You all be safe this spring

Beautiful wood, indeed. What a rhythm wood grain has, with fur and hair grain flow, ocean swells, desert dunes , snow drifts, ice layers, and so much more.

Wonderful mountains, once again.

Good company, good food, good country.

Thank you, JR.

As always JR fantastic pictures I really like the cabin and it's location , how is it's interior ?

I know darn good and well that my 660 Polaris RMK probably won't get far in your snow conditions thank you for the pictures and the story to go along with them .

Funny how different people with different situations like different things. I've been using Pilot skis on skidoos since before Skidoo was, and have even put those DS2s on other brands that I had to fabricate brackets to bolt them on with. That deep keel that you hate, I really like it the deep soft snow, it will grab snow and steer better in the soft stuff, where I always have problems is tight places with either deep soft snow (especially warm, sloppy stuff) or tight places with no snow. And if they've got decent carbides on them they'll steer in the no snow conditions also. Sure they grab and jerk your arms and your snowmachine around some, but I don't have to deal with a lot of ice riding like you do.

You've got a good twist of phrase. I can't wait to read your write up after your adventures with JR next spring!

Happy Spring Trappers. Been a pretty good week here. Dean Wilson Jr brought me up a bunch of Dean Sr's #9 parts, traps, jigs and just genuine cool stuff. Years ago in 1998, Dean made a run of 100 limited edition Brass Panned AK #9's. This edition was to celebrate Dean's 10 years of production. Trap #1 was sold to sealed high bidder, not sure who got that. Trap #2 was donated to the ATA and Trap #3 was donated to the NTA. I was lucky enough to help stamp pans for him back then.They came with a signed verification certificate from Dean. I am trying to figure out a price to put on them as I have a dozen of them some with numbers stamped in the pan and some without. Dean kept a folder with everyone's name who got what number trap. Dean Jr is still looking for that for me.

Another prize in the collection is Dean's Last #9 they built before selling to Al Barrette. This is a highlight in my collection for sure.
Prior to Dean Sr building the #9's was Steve Titus from Fairbanks. I had never met him before this week. I called him on the phone and asked if he could identify some of the tools and jigs from Dean Sr. He agreed and came right over. Steve, Jim Masek and I BS'd about #9's parts, tools and history for 3 hours. What a day.... I took Steve in the house to show him my #9 collection. As we walk in the door, Steve pauses and says "looks like a museum in here". Jim and I laughed and said that's what Al Wright said. I am currently working on a display of AK #9 history from start to current. Will be doing a story on it for the magazine also.In this pic, I am am holding a #9 Blued and welded open for a Trapper of the Year Award for next year and Steve is holding a #9 that I built.

Yesterday I received my prototype parts for the #9 from the new company in ND. I called Masek and had him come over and supervise. I quickly put together a #9 with the new parts to confirm prints are correct. Little polishing and she'll work.
Be placing an order for parts for 500 traps today and back building 9's this fall. Dang does that feel good. Been a stressful 8 months in search of a new manufacturing company.

Now it's time to go take care of some grizzly bears. Got a couple killers from Minnesota coming up today and hopefully head out tomorrow. You all have a safe spring.

All sorts of great news happening for you, JR. All smiles in those shots.

What beautiful traps. And the folks who came to visit you , surely felt as treated to enjoyment with such an appreciative trapper, as you were with them. And more special art to add to your collection....that last #9 , by Dean himself.

Your new manufacturing source is all set. You're off at a gallop.

Now to put the RESPECT back in a couple of bears soon...I am reminded of Aretha Franklin's song on that one.... be safe, JR.

Good stuff JR. Nice to hear some history.

Great adds to the collection JR! Looking forward to the article on the history of the #9. Glad new manufacturer is working out. Good luck with the grizzlies and stay safe.

Hello Trappers. Made it back from the mountains without the cabin raiding bears. We didn't even see any bear sign until the last day when a young sow with yearling cub meandered down the river. Not the same sow but only a few miles upstream of the cabin. Weather was great with only a couple days of rain but many day of wind. Cleaned up Eric's camp and mine getting a lot done with my two Minnesota guys.


High water had us camp bound for a couple days but utilized our time effectively with camp work.

Temps high in the day and low at night freezing on us 3 or 4 nights. Those freezing nights really bring the water levels down and slow the runoff in the mountains. Once the river came down to a workable level we started covering ground looking for sign. Without any bear sign, we changed tactics to antler hunting and that we were successful at.


This one was grown right into the tree



Lots of time glassing from the ridges and other way was just to grid a draw or valley up and down.



Found this unique looking rock cluster on one of the hikes. Any ideas?
Most of the antlers were older and only found a few fresh ones from last season.


Only cut one wolf track on the entire adventure. Saw a few sheep which made me very happy. Didn't see a single moose and only a few fresh tracks. Most of the moose in my country head for the flats in the spring but usually I have a small resident population that hangs around.
Always check the rub trees.....

We ended up picking up 39 shed antlers and deadheads. We left a few of the really old ones.


It is really fun to run around the country with guys that appreciate it as much as I. Hopefully the guys will come back in the near future and we can fill a couple bear tags but just couldn't get it done this year. Got a couple more airboat hulls to straighten up for guys and off to work. Hope everyone has a safe and successful summer.

What a great time finding those sheds and glassing the country. How pleasant to find a sitting spot just right for as long as one desires. Just enjoying every minute and detail. I would have had just as much, if not more enjoyment doing those activities, as I would on a hunt.

I knew that one mountain , straight away….with the Stoney Ridge . Looking forward very much to seeing it in living colour. Definitely as beautiful in spring as it is in winter attire.

A lot of needed, good progress accomplished in work , that will make future visits there a pleasure.

Thank you for the share, JR.

If only you had a truly "dry" creek to run on! pb

I'm glad to hear you have another supplier to get parts from !

As for the bears as you said it was a great adventure for all of you it's interesting how things sometimes work or don't work .

What a collection of sheds ! Thanks for the pictures of the ride along , hopefully someone will get a shot at the camp destroyer bears during hunting season before they can cause more problems .

hey akhowler,

that rock you found looks to me like it is possibly nephrite jade

Good morning Trappers. Been a busy summer and got some great news yesterday. My new parts manufacturer for the #9 parts finished the order and shipped yesterday. Am very excited to get back into production and to be working with this new company. On a bad note, my spring manufacturer doubled the price on my springs so I am currently working with another outfit to make my springs. Tell you what, it is getting harder and harder to keep doing building the #9's in house. I don't do this for the money but truley enjoy building them, keeping them Alaskan built, dealing and talking traps and trapping with fellow trappers and supporting American made products.
Made a couple trips down to Minto Flats fishing this summer.
Working iron this summer down in Healy and really enjoying that. Heading back down tomorrow. Not sure how long I'll work but probably until trapping season starts. Had some time off in September so went out and guided a caribou hunter on the trapline with Hunt Alaska. Hunting was a little slow this year but did manage to harvest a few respectable representations of the species. We just didn't see very many this season.


Moose hunting started off slow also. Had a couple early snows and pretty wet season but everything went pretty well. Saw one wolf track and very little bear activity while I was out there. Got some work done around my cabins and just enjoyed being there like usual.





After guiding, I took ATA President Randy Zarnke down to Minto Flats moose hunting. Well, really we didn't do a lot of hunting. I worked him like an old borrowed mule trying to level up a buddies cabin.. Gotta put in your work before you get to come out to my special spot to moose hunt even if your the President. Hopefully next year he can do some hunting. Always fun to hunt with someone new just to compare tactics.


ATA monthly meetings starting next month and the General Trapping school the 3rd weekend of October. Trapping season is coming up fast so hope you all have your traps prepped, sleds serviced and started gathering bait. Remember Trappers, If you are not a member of your local and or National Trappers Organization, join today. The Anti's are trying to take our right to trap ever single day and if you don't join the fight to support trapping. We will lose this opportunity to do what we all love to do.